Galzberg Kingdom, Kripa New Town.
Dressed in plain black, Douglas Bullet strode down the street. It was a rare day off, and he was headed to his favorite dessert shop.
Ever since he'd been betrayed by his comrades at the age of eight—left for dead, barely crawling home with his life—Bullet had shut himself off from the world. He trusted no one, believed in nothing but his own strength, and lived for one thing only: to become stronger.
Only in the pursuit of power did he find the faintest hint of solace.
Years of bloodshed on the battlefield had twisted the soul of this twelve-year-old boy. Loneliness gnawed at him, and a hidden yearning—one he couldn't name—tormented him relentlessly. The pain had nowhere to go, so Bullet grew ever more silent, ever colder. Only sweets brought him a moment's peace.
Inside the dessert shop, Bullet ordered his usual, found a seat by the window, and stared out at the street. When the dessert arrived, he gave the server a polite nod, though his face remained blank.
He picked up his spoon, taking slow, deliberate bites. Smooth chocolate and rich cream filled his mouth, awakening his dulled senses. For a fleeting moment, the sweetness cracked open the shell around his heart. A small spark of happiness flickered in his mind.
The shop was quiet, the ceiling fan spinning lazily overhead. As the sugary flavor lingered, Bullet's whole body seemed to relax. The icy mask he wore softened, just a little.
But the peace didn't last. Cries and shouts from outside shattered the calm.
In an instant, Bullet's expression hardened, the old "keep away" warning in his eyes. He finished the last bite of cake, stood up, and left the shop.
He walked toward the noisy tavern up ahead. He'd overheard the staff whispering about pirates...
At the tavern's entrance, several figures lay groaning on the ground—the owner and his staff.
Inside, the Wheel Pirates were a mess. They tore through the place, shoving food into their mouths with no regard for manners or decency. Their captain, Puss Scully, nearly choked on a mouthful and grabbed a barrel of ale, gulping it down before slamming it on the table.
"Move it! Eat fast and grab anything valuable!" he barked. "Those damn dogs'll catch up soon!"
A lackey, mouth stuffed, mumbled, "They can't catch up that quick, boss. Maybe those Marines died in yesterday's storm."
Scully's face twisted with rage. He hurled the empty barrel at the talkative pirate, who went down in a bloody heap.
"Who's the captain here, huh? Shut your trap!" Scully roared.
The rest of the crew flinched. "Yes, sir!"
A few sharp-eyed pirates dropped their food and rushed to loot the counter. Scully nodded in approval—if only all his men were this useful.
Just then, the door swung open. Bullet, still in his black clothes, walked in.
He fixed the pirates with a cold stare. "Who told you you could run wild in this country?"
A few of the rowdier lackeys sneered, stepping forward.
"Where'd this brat come from?"
"Wanna die, kid?"
"Mind your own business."
"Cut him down!"
But Scully raised a hand. "Hold it."
He could feel something off about Bullet—that military aura. Not someone to take lightly. After a moment's thought, Scully had his men drop their loot and keep their eyes on the newcomer.
Bullet didn't move, didn't flinch. He just stared back, face unreadable.
Scully's expression darkened. "Get him."
Without hesitation, his men charged, swords drawn.
Bullet sidestepped the first attack, expression unchanged. As the pirate's blade bit into the floor, Bullet seized his wrist and squeezed.
CRACK!
Bones shattered. The pirate screamed, dropping his sword. Bullet caught it mid-air, then drove a brutal kick into the man, hurling him into the group on the left.
He spun, surging toward the right.
CLANG!
Steel rang against steel as another pirate tried to block. But the instant their blades met, Bullet's inhuman strength crushed down. Terror flashed in the pirate's eyes as the blade sliced through him, splitting him in two.
The sudden violence stunned the rest. Before they could react, Bullet's sword flashed again and again—slicing, hacking, blood spraying like a fountain.
Splurt!
Heads flew. The tavern fell silent.
The pirates who'd been knocked aside earlier stared in shock, silently grateful to be alive.
At the bar, Scully wasted no time. He transformed into a massive wheel and barreled straight at Bullet.
Seeing the oncoming threat, Bullet narrowed his eyes and dodged aside. In a blur, Scully shifted back to human form, seized Bullet's shoulder with his left hand, and morphed his right into a spinning, saw-bladed wheel.
BZZZZ—!
The whirring blade screamed toward Bullet's neck.
But Bullet ducked low, ramming his head into Scully's gut. The two of them crashed through the back wall and tumbled into the street.
The saw missed Bullet's throat, but raked across his back, tearing flesh and muscle.
Still, Bullet glared at Scully without a flicker of pain.
Scully grinned cruelly. "Soldiers... sometimes they're the easiest to break."
He spun back into wheel form and charged for Bullet—and the innocent bystanders behind him.
Bullet frowned, ready to dodge, then hesitated. In that instant, he understood what the pirate was planning.
A ruthless glint flashed in Bullet's eyes. As the giant wheel thundered toward him, he swung his right fist hard to the side.
BANG!
The wheel skidded off course, but still slammed into Bullet, smashing him through a nearby building.
BOOM!
Rubble collapsed around him. Bullet coughed, blood trickling from his lips, but rolled aside just in time to avoid Scully's next attack.
Seeing the pirate transform and charge again, Bullet raised his sword—blade up, unmoving, eyes fierce.
He was gambling.
Just before the wheel struck, Scully veered off, shifting back to human form. His face was twisted with frustration. Damn it... how did this brat know?
If the sword had pierced his wheel-form body at that speed, he'd have been torn apart.
Scully glared daggers at Bullet.
Whoosh!
A sudden whistling sound cut through the air. Scully's face went white. Without thinking, he spun into wheel form and tried to flee.
A finger-sized crater appeared where he'd just stood.
BOOM!
A thunderous crash. The giant wheel was sent flying, slamming into the ground not far from Bullet.
Bullet's pupils shrank. That kind of power...
Three Marines in uniform strode onto the scene, heading straight for Scully.
Panic-stricken, Scully barreled toward Bullet's side, desperate to escape.
Suddenly, the sound of shattering glass rang out behind Bullet.
He turned—there, a little girl stood frozen, wine and bottle shards at her feet, staring in terror at the oncoming wheel.
Without a second thought, bloodied and battered, Bullet exploded forward—faster even than the wheel.
He crouched protectively in front of the girl.
BOOM!
The shockwave blasted past. When the dust settled, Bullet looked up to see a tall Marine officer standing before him. On the ground lay Scully's still-warm corpse.
The officer turned, meeting Bullet's gaze. "You did well, kid."
Bullet stared up at the man, confusion flickering in his eyes.
Almost to himself, he muttered, "Why?"
Karol blinked. "Hm?"
Bullet steadied his gaze, voice rough. "Why did you save me?"
Karol smiled. "Because protecting these seas—and the people of this world—is the duty we Marines bear."
Bullet stood frozen, unable to respond. For the first time in years, the ice around his heart began to thaw.
That hidden longing deep inside him—he could no longer suppress it.
~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~
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